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Motorola Facebook: DROID Bionic Will Receive Ice Cream Sandwich

Last night’s news that the DROID Bionic has been flagged as “unsellable” is a little unsettling. There could be a variety of reasons for something like that to happen, so we will just hope that Moto and Verizon can figure it out and get it back on store shelves. In the mean time, we have news on a positive front for current Bionic owners to look forward to. Many of you have asked time and time again, “Will the Bionic get Ice Cream Sandwich?” While we figured it most certainly would, the message above from Motorola’s Facebook page is exactly what we all wanted to see. According to Moto, they will get to working on or at least share timing of their plans once Google releases source.

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For years I resisted a “smart phone”, refusing the iPhone and all the rest. I had heard the Android phones were for techies and I’m not really one. However, I bought the Bionic when an opportunity presented itself and it took me about one hour to learn it. Great phone. Better than my wife’s iPhone. Looking forward to the ICS upgrade
(but also apprehensive)

eddieonofre

Can anyone point me to a sit ewith instrucction to rrot the Bionic (I just got one) as well as if teh bionic is able to install custom ROM?

Jpmkem2003

I just picked up the BIONIC, and Verizon has many of them in stock at several stores in Detroit area? Why do I hear they aren’t selling them? Or not on shelves? But I may just turn it back in within the 14 days for the RAZR, I get a 25% discount so the price is not a problem as it is an upgrade to the my Droid X

Anonymous

Soon, I will try to return my Bionic to Verizon and tell them it is non functional. With so many people complaining, is it any wonder the sales of this phone might lag. I think Motorola and Verizon have performed about the same with the Bionic as they did with the Xoom. This may be my last Android/Moto device.

Anonymous

For the love of god, the “unsellable” story was about stores UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND for the phone not there being something wrong with the phone.

Anonymous

Buyonic remorse?

Msvicki73

None here..

me

My bionic is great the nexus will be a little better but not enough to make me second guess my choice ..btw they are still selling bionics.

Tylerzimmick

I’m a DROID bionic owner and. I love my phone I’m just waiting for the ice cream sandwich. I got a question will voice command be better then siri?

RW-1

“We’ll share timing after Google releases the source”

Sure ….

What you will get then is: “Soon”

Which then turns into “We will release it after we are sure it is compatible (Translation: blurified will not cause it to completely crash, but allow you some sembalance of functionality)

To: “Shortly”

To: “By the end of the last quarter 2015” (Side note: Android will be 2 iterations past this by then, on 6 or 7.0 …)

Get the picture suckers?

Msvicki73

Ive been told by Verizon that the Bionic is getting the ICS upgrade before the RAZR, & the RAZR is getting it in Jan. So sorry, but youre “prediction” is WAY off.

Anonymous

Thanks kellex … Still waiting on an update from yesterday about the bionic being unsellable, but at least you’ve given me this request regarding ics!

Anonymous

The questions is what are we going to do with those capacitative buttons on the Bionic and others, now that we have ICS? Or is this just a Galaxy Nexus thing…

Anonymous

Droid Bionic with ICS is going to be awesome.

Anthony Lamberto

made my day 🙂 saweet ice cream sandwich

BoozeHammer

You can put listick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.

Anonymous

My exacts thoughts about the Nexus. No matter how much flash you put behind it, no amount of awesome hardware will hide how bad Samsung radios are. Unfortunately, I need a phone that lives up to its namesake.

Dshel61

What will Ice Cream Sandwich do if your Bionic is rooted?

Illinipoke98

The gallery on the bionic has image editing built in. Maybe that is what he is talking about? I haven’t looked at all the ICS goodies yet to see what else he may be talking about.

Anonymous

The text message reply feature on the Bionic was also added in ICS along with the ability to individually remove notifications (though it’s with a swipe in ICS).

Moto’s custom launcher kind of mimics aspects of the HC/ICS UI as well.

I don’t WANT a Razr. I laugh at Apple fanboys for having a phone with a non-replaceable battery. I am not going to turn around and then buy a phone that has one. The slight upgrade in processor speed is simply not worth it.

Anonymous

Actually 2.3.4 wasn’t released until May. And actually yes, some of Motorola’s custom stuff is quite good. Not all, but some. I will take the Motorola dialer over the cluster &&*$# that is the dialer built into the Thunderbolt.

yeah, after 2012 is half over. maybe if hes lucky he will get it before next summer.

big box

Motorola’s UI implements parts of honeycomb (they made the xoom with Google) And ICS is a mash-up of gingerbread and honeycomb, therefore, the bionic has bits of ICS. Could care less if bionic is better or not, but this Sam Guy has a point.

So what happens to phones with physical or capacitative buttons with ICS…will they not have the OSD buttons and instead use the original buttons?

Tony Allen

Of course they’ll just use the capacitive buttons.. why is this such a thing for people to wonder about. No they’re going to reduce your screen real estate and de-illuminate the buttons you already have.. -.-

Anonymous

Not an issue. Especially since Google explicitly stated that most Gingerbread devices
should be compatible with ICS. I think they (mostly) know what they’re
doing.

In another group I monitor, somebody verified that w/ICS on the Android Simulator (which has ‘physical’ buttons) the on-screen buttons do not display, and the physical buttons are enabled.

Nate Surber

Dude is gonna make me diabetic he’s so sweet.

Anonymous

Again, I LOL’d at the guys response. Anymore facebook posts i can LOL at? 🙂

Anonymous

sam likes moto a little too much. jesus

Anonymous

I’ve heard Google is making BIG BIG pushes/demands to get all phones across all OEMs that have Gingerbread currently on ICS. Could be very interesting.

Anonymous

Oh I love the sound of that.. 🙂

ShootAngelsFace77x

Better than the Nexus? Are these people TRYING to fool themselves? I’m glad you’re happy with your phone. Unless you sell it you kind of have to be.

coyote

Ill bet it is the extremely annoying radio issues where the bionic looses data connection when changing modes (wifi, 3g, 4g)

Anonymous

They ignore you bro?

LiterofCola

Sheesh, Sam’s an even worse Moto fanboy than Angelface

Anonymous

Angelface loves that D1 his mom bought him so much he will never get rid of it. He obviously hates anything and everything that isn’t a D1. Heaven forbid someone mention a new phone or feature… he is going to let you know immediately that it is junk compared to his D1.

Anonymous

Us D1’er like for it to be referred to as the OG Droid. Why would we need a new phone or features when the OG does everything? Droid will be the second phone to get ICS and they just use the Nexus to clear the bugs out of the way for the OG Droid!

/sarcasm

But really, LONG LIVE THE OG DROID!

Anonymous

I had the OG and loved it! Best speaker on the planet and developer friendly….! Nothing wrong with the OG.

ShootAngelsFace77x

I love this post…. obviously.

Nate Surber

Should have read:
“Dear Moto, I will be selling my Droid Bionic to buy the Galaxy Nexus. Can I advertise one of the selling points as – will be receiving the Android ICS update in the future?”

Anonymous

Time to stop asking IF it will get ICS but WHEN it will get ICS..

Djlowproz

Somebody should right on Sam’s fb page, You Mad Bro?

Mctypething

or maybe they could write it also.

Djlowproz

True but seriously what kind of drugs is Sam on to think that the Bionic is better than the Galaxy Nexus.

Sam Backus

I like the Bionic because of its form factor and because of the webtop accessories. I know lots of people like Toshiba computers better than Dell, because of the look and feel of their computers. Other people like HP better. Doesn’t mean Toshiba’s computer has a better screen or faster processor, it means someone has a preference for Toshiba. Yes, you are right the Galaxy Nexus has some specs better than Bionic’s. However, I like the build quality of Motorola, and I prefer the Bionic.

And Djlowproz, I am not mad. Thanks for asking

Anonymous

I agree Sam and some people are getting it confused as to what parts are galaxy nexus and whats ice cream sandwich. Take away the ICS and the galaxy nexus isn’t all that impressive to me. But thats just me.

Keith Sumner

You know, you “NEXUS FTW” trolls don’t even realize what you’re getting into, you think the Bionic has bugs? You’re getting a phone with a brand new operating system that hasn’t been used by the masses, get ready for bugs like you’ve never seen.

Anonymous

Every new operating system hasn’t been used by the masses until it is released. And there have been plenty of them without issue. The operating system is not going to be an issue.

Keith Sumner

No offense, KleenDroid I respect what you’ve done for this community but I don’t know how you can guarantee that the operating system will not have any issues when it hasn’t been released yet, have you used it already?

Riders0ftheli

The Bionic is running on software thats almost a year old… shouldnt be bugs. Ice Cream Sandwich may have bugs, but knowing those bugs will get fixed by a quick update from Google themselves feels way better.

Bill Mitchell

The Bionics software is based off of year old software, but the rom itself is very new since Motorola messes with it as it wishes. And we all know that Motorola does a GREAT job with their custom stuff :p

Riders0ftheli

exactly haha

Anonymous

Once again, the Bionic only has minor bugs except for the camera focus issue (which is a bug with the camera app) and some radio issues when switching between 3G and 4G. Fixes are coming in the next update.

Seriously, you sad trolls keep saying how buggy the Bionic is, I’ll be laughing when the bugs for ICS come out. Every phone that comes out has bugs, some worse than others.

Bionicman

minor bugs my ass. i dont call the phone shutting off by itself requiring a battery pull, loud high pitche noises through headphones and apps disappearing “minor bugs”. sorry, BIONIC wasn’t ready for primetime period. and now people are understandably pissed that the RAZR is coming out so soon. i think moto screwed the pooch with that phone

Bionicman

and yes i’am mad bro 🙂

Anonymous

Funny, I don’t have those issues. Mine has never once shut off by itself. Ok, the apps disappearing thing is an issue but it’s not a big one, you just can’t store the apps on sdcard for now but it’s not like you’re hurting for space with 4 GB available.

MattInPDX

I don’t have any of those problems with my Bionic. You should exchange yours.

Msvicki73

Haven’t had those problems with mine either.

Msvicki73

My Bionic has never shut itself off and none of my apps have diappeared. So maybe its just your phone?

Lizzicoop

Ive had my phone since launch with no glitches… Never shuts off or gives me issues. Maybe you need to do a warranty exchange. As a rep, ive never had any issues with the maybe 25 bionics I have sold.

Anonymous

You just have to read the web to see the extent of this.

Anonymous

Seriously though… a glitch may happen with anything… but Google is a big enough company to not release the base software if it simply doesn’t work.

I would be more concerned with what the manufacturers will mess up with their skins. I like both Blur and Sense, but I think they are not needed with ICS.

Jigga_Z

Hi Keith! I think you make a good point about the risk for bugs, but nobody can ever guarantee a bug-free experience. That being said, a customized UI like Blur, Sense or TouchWiz increases the possibilities that bugs exist, merely because its adding more on top of the stock experience (more code = more bug possibility).

I think many of us trust that ICS will be stable at launch with good reasons. Kellex has pointed out that mini bug updates have been rolling out at an almost daily basis to people who have the Nexus already, and Google will certainly want to ensure it is as stable as possible before releasing the source to everyone else. Sure, we still may find bugs, but having a Nexus device puts us in the best shape to get them fixed. Compare that the the Thunderbolt, that’s still waiting for GB reinstated after the voicemail notification bug. Nothing is perfect, but a Google device in any form is probably as close as we can get to software perfection.

Anonymous

Most bugs on Android devices are caused by the manufacturer UI. They’re more than just launchers, they are like cancer, woven into the entire system. Why do you think it takes so long to get updates?

Anonymous

Skins would be like Nike forcing a guy who is sponsored by them and runs in the cold wear a big Nike parka when he runs. It does serve a purpose by keeping him warm but it looks goofy and slows him down.

Anonymous

Not true. The Droid had plenty of bugs when I got it, that was stock Android. How about the Xoom? Lots of bugs on release.

Anonymous

The Nexus will be buggy. Believe me. And the fact that it is a Samsung will make things even worse. Just trying to warn you guys that are going to buy a Nexus on launch day. Verizon testers are already having connectivity issues with the test unit and now Samsung has to make some fixes.

Colin Zack

Where did you hear this? A source might make it a bit more believable/credible

Everything has bugs there is no way around it really, but the fact of the matter is that they will get fixed sooner on a google phone than say a motorola phone, not to mention manufacturer skinning introduces a lot of new bugs that the AOSP does not have

Synapticrecord

Lmao…google owns moto:-P

Tony Allen

No.. Google doesn’t own Motorola Mobility.. they’ve taken action to purchase it. Now to wait on the shareholders to vote on the matter, and the paperwork/red tape still needs to be taken care of. Why are people so ignorant?

Jeff Tycz

that makes no difference, google said it is going to be acting as its own separate company so nothing is going to change

How about MOTO gives bionic owners a free razr for duping them into buying a product who’s upgrade would come out a month later…

Yiannis

Enjoy your permanent 5 hr charging cycles.

Mwclaunch

Are you refering to my hypothetical new razr??

EC8CH

“I guess the bionic already has pieces of ICS installed”

ok buddy

Adam Wiggins

Haha, maybe he means text message replying to missed calls?

Can’t wait to rid myself of Blur and bask in the glory that is pure unadulterated ICS.

Anonymous

That’s in gingerbread on my DX now. Not an ICS feature.

Anonymous

Actually, it is an ICS feature. Motorola added it to their Gingerblur or whatever you want to call it.

Anonymous

Actually, I know what he is trying to say… but actually what I took away from it was, there are “features” of Blur that are now part of the stock Android experience making them pointless (and useless) in the future.

EC8CH

oh I get what we was trying to say… he just said it very very wrong

Anonymous

should he have said, “there are pieces of blur in ICS” ?

Mctypething

Reading Moto’s facebook page is my comic relief each day. Chuck full of complaints and witty zings about unlocked bootloaders.

Boblank84

cant imagine what a blur’d up version of ics will look like. Glad i wont have to first hand…

Msvicki73

I imagine it’ll be awesome.. & btw its not called blur on the Bionic its a version of what blur WAS, but they changed/improved upon it. & I happen to like it a lot. No complaints at all.

That dude needs to wipe that brown stuff off his nose.. Bionic is nothing compared to what i saw Tuesday

Mctypething

That’s the only way Moto responds to people on fb, you have to kiss their ass. Any legitimate complaint gets ignored.

Anonymous

Sounds like you been ignored Bro?

Anonymous

“What is all this bro sh!t anyway?” – Clint Eastwood

EC8CH

I wish I could like this comment more

Anonymous

“You talkin to me?” – Scarface

Anonymous

Are you mad bro?

Anonymous

Don’t worry… soon you will all be enjoying Blur Cream Sandwich!

Mctypething

Of course Moto FB is going to say the Bionic is getting ICS. If they said otherwise, there might be a full scale riot amongst Bionic owners already disgruntled by the announcement of the Razr. This means nothing. They could easily come back in early 2012 and make up some BS excuse as to why the Bionic can’t get ICS now.

Anonymous

They really don’t even need to say it though. We all know that all the phones will eventually get it. When we will have to wait and see and of course there will be delays… 🙂 But it will be coming for everyone.

Duder

Why wouldn’t the Bionic be getting ICS? Looking at how Motorola’s phones usually get updates first I’m not understanding why anybody would think that it wont be getting ICS. Even though the Bionic is almost 2 months old, it still is one of the best phones you can get…

Anonymous

You seem to be confusing Motorola with HTC, who can’t seem to decide which phones they are actually going to update and when.

Msvicki73

Bull.. they are not just saying shit to make bionic owners happy for the moment. I was on that Facebook page & when other ppl were asking if other phones like the Atrix were gonna be getting ICS they answered with “Within 6 weeks of Google’s public push of ICS we’ll confirm other devices to get ICS” The Bionic was the only phone they specifically confirmed will be getting the upgrade. & they confirmed it in more than 1 post. Every other phone or tablet ppl asked about got the answer I quoted above. So sorry to burst your bubble, but the bionic WILL be getting ICS, making it continue to remain one of the top smartphones on the market, or “Keeping up with the Jones’s/Nexus’s” if you prefer..

Dylan

I love my bionic more than the RAZR…I feel like it would break in my pocket….it is way too thin

Gunther

that made me throw up a little…I really do wish that once Google takes over Moto, it takes Blur and shoves it up Sanjay’s ass.

Firant

Brown Blur? You think that would be better?

bigrob60

That sound XXX rated.

Tom

So would ICS on an older phone reduce screen real estate or would the soft buttons not be used at all and the dedicated ones would still be usable?

Anonymous

the software buttons are an optional feature in 4.0 for manufacturers, so phones with hard buttons wouldn’t display the software buttons most likely

luis42

Can apps change the software buttons? Like add more buttons, remove buttons or completely change them. I wonder if devs will have to create 2 different UIs for phones without dedicated buttons and those with them that also have shorter screens.

Myfacetwitterbookspace

No removable storage? No hdmi out? Bionic will get ICS….having a bigger screen doesn’t make for a better phone. I refuse to get a phone with no removable storage/battery (Nexus/Razr). I heard that the usb port will double as hdmi out (rumor), but how will I charge it at the same time?spend money on a splitter that doesn’t exist yet?

Madcow06

I’m pretty sure the nexus does have a removable battery, on the hands video on engadget he unsnaps the back cover but doesn’t take it off.

Remember this bold prediction – Samsung will be the first with Ice Cream Sandwich, definitely beating your timeline of “Never”. Put them down for “immediately.”

Anonymous

plus the GALAXY NEXUS will receive its updates directly from Google, they will not pass through Samsung, they will not pass through Verizon, a NEXUS device is always updated by Google directly, thats why the GALAXY NEXUS is such a big deal, well that and the fact it can be unlocked with a few commands and it is the only device on Verizon that will run a stock version of Android on a smartphone (XOOM doesn’t count because thats a tablet)

Nope, I’m getting the Nexus but just because I’m going to get a different phone than somebody else doesn’t mean I’m gonna claim that someone who is obviously satisfied with it isn’t. That’s what trolls do.

Anonymous

Well he did totally leave the door open. 😛

Eerie103

LOL

EC8CH

I’d love to watch him run for anything.

Firant

Only from a great distance. Think of the momentum.

bigrob60

He’s the juggernaut.

Anonymous

I can feel the trolling in your comment.

ShootAngelsFace77x

It feels good.

Anonymous

You know if J_McClane calls you a troll, you must be a troll. It’s the equivalent of Osama calling someone else a terrorist.

Anonymous

u mad bro?

Did I hurt your feelings because you said something asinine? I can’t keep track since there are so many idiots on this site.

Anonymous

Hahaha relax Trolly McRolly, you don’t my internet feelings.

What you say is true though, there are a lot of folks similar to you here.

Anonymous

I don’t think trolling is what you think it is.

Anonymous

It’s when you hide under a bridge and make travelers pay to cross it right?!!?!

Nookie

Tech, you should know what trolls are based on your picture. Trolls steal your underpants and turn it into profit. Its very easy.
Step 1. Steal underpants
Step 2.
Step 3. Profit
O wait, thats gnomes…nevermind.

Mctypething

u mad bro?

Anonymous

as mad as you bro

Mctypething

u mad bro?

Timbly12

Can almost feel the buyer’s remorse your gonna feel when in a few months your phone is outdated. Bitch…

Trolls FTW!

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